Railway-switch apparatus



C. A ALDEN. RAILWAY SWITCH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 1. I919.

Patented May 25, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

gwwwtoz C. A. ALDEN.

RAILWAY SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATIQN EILED OCT-b15319.

Patented May 25, 1920.

' A 3 SHEETS H ET 2 C. A. ALDEN. RAILWAY SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- I, I9I9.

Patented May 25, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- i any;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES AMES ALDEN, OF STEEL'ION, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-SWITCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed October 1. 1919. Serial No. 327.626.

siding at Steelton, Dauphin county, State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Switch Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to railway switch apparatus and moreparticularly to means for operating the signal in connection therewith.

The usual signal device used in connection with railway switches is sodisposed and actuated that the angular movement of the signal issubstantially proportional to the lateral movement of the switch. Hencethe switch point may be moved either maliciously or because of breakageof the connections a small distance from the fixed rail, without givinga perceptible movement to the signal which usually consists of a targetor lamp. This small opening may cause a derailment of a train movingtoward the switch, although the signal indicates safety.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a signal andmeans for operating the same so that the angular motion thereof isaccelerated during the first and last portions of the throw of theswitch so that the signal will indicate danger unless the switch is in asafe position.

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from thedescription taken in connection with the drawings, in which Figure 1 isa top plan view of a switch stand and a portion of a switch embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the signal operating mechanism, certainparts being broken away, showing the position of the arts after theswitch has been moved a raction of its throw;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the escapement cam;

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the operatse i. 1g. 6 1s a perspectiveview of the operatmg crank or lever; j I

ig. 7' is a sectional elevation through the hub of the operating lever;and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of themast supporting member.

ferring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates a switchstand of any desired type having a rod 11 adapted to be connected to theswitch to throw the same.

In the present embodiment of the inven tion the signal and means foroperating the same are assembled with the switch stand,

I although it will be obvious that the signal and its actuatingmechanism might be dis posed in other locations. As shown, the baseplate 12 of the switch stand, which is secured to the ties 13 has twoparallel spaced bolts 14 and 15 projecting upward therefrom. The outerof these bolts has the hub 16 01 an actuating lover or crank rotatablymounted thereon, the bore having a bushing 17. As clearly shown in thedrawings this lever has an arm 18 provided with an operating pin 19adjacent the free end thereof. Further the hub 16 has a lug 20 intowhich is threaded a rod 21. The free end of this rod'is adapted to beconnected so that movement of the switch will turn the lever. As shownthis is accomplished by an adjustable rod 22 at one end secured to theswitch point 23 and at the other end to the rod 21. It will be seen thatthe angular movement of the operating lever may be varied by adjustingthe rod 21 in the lug 20.

The signal is mounted on a mast which comprises a shaft 24 rotatablymounted in a bar 25 the ends of which are held in place by the bolts 1%-and 15. A signal sup porting member 26 is secured to the upper end ofthe shaft 2%. said. member being formed with a socket to receive saidshaft, and the two parts being connected for rotation together in anysuitable manner as by means UT the pin 9/7. Downward movement of theshaft and associated parts is prevented by the lower end of member 26rest ing on the boss 28 of the bar 25. The shaft 2 1 projects below thebar 25 and has an operating cam 29 fastened thereto for rotationtherewith as by means of the pin 30. As clearly shown in Fig. 5 this camis provided with a cam groove consisting of the curved portion 31, whichis concentric with the axis of bolt 14 when the cam is in centralposition. At the ends of the curved portion 31, the cam groove has theoffset portions 32 and 33 extending in a generally radial direction withrespect to the axis of the cam. The cam is also provided with theescapement stops 34 and 35, the function of which will appearhereinafter.

When the switch pionts are at one end of their throw, the parts are inthe positions illustrated in Fig. 1. Now if for any reason the switchpointis moved a slight distance away from the rail, the motion thereofwill be communicated to the oper-- ating lever and the pin 19 thereofdisposed in'the offset portion 32 of the cam groove, will act on the cammember to swing it about the axis of the mast, thereby turning, themastand the signal. The arrangement-oftheparts is such that this slightmotion of; 'theswitch points will turn the mast-andsignal through aconsiderable angle.- Thus 'the'signal will be turned sufiiciently sothat the engineer will be warned that-the-switch: is not safe. In Fig. 2of the drawings the positions of the parts are illustrated afterv theswitch point has moved only ;about@20% of its throw from the :positionillustrated in: Fig. 1. This slight motion of the-switch point howeverhaswbeen suflicient to -turn the signal mast throughanangle ofsubstantially 45 degrees In throwingthe switch therefore the-firstportion-of the motion thereof carries the:pin=19 out of the portion 32of the cam groove into'the concentric portion 31, the cams and mast 1having been turned through substantially 45 degrees in this time.Further motion of the switch moves the-pin '19 inthe concentric portionof the cam-groove and therefore transmits no motion to-the'cam. Howeverwhen thepin 19 comes opposite the ofl'set portion 33 of the cam*-groove, the cam member will be turned and the pin will travel outward tothe outer extremity of this offset portion 33, the cam member andmastbeing turned through substantially 4:5 degrees" while the pin ismovingin this offset 33. When the switch is turned in the oppositedirection, the pin willtravel in the cam groove in-the reversedirectionthereby turning the mast through 45 degrees duringthe first portion ofthe switch. movement, transmittingno motion to-themast during theintermediate portion of theswitch movement and finally turning the-mastthrough theremaining 45 degrees of its 90 degree movement only at theendof the throw.

It is desirable-to hold the signalmast againstmovementywhen the pin 19is in the concentric portion ofthe camgroove, that is when the motion oftheswitch is not being communicated. to 1 the signal mast. For. thispurposean. escapement cam 36 illustratedinFigA isprovided. As clearlyshown in-the figures,-'this.-escapement cam" isupivotally-mountedon thebolt 15 between the;bani25..and..a.projection 37 on the housingoftheswitchstand 10. This escapementcamis provided with. a concaved edgesurface 38. adaptedwto cooperate with the pin 19 as will presentlybeexplained. 011 its .nnder sideit isformed: .with. the oppo- 40 on theescapement cam, this stop engaging said surface at about the time thepin 19 enters the concentric portion of the cam groove. Referring toFig. 2, it will be seen if the operating cam with the signal shouldbeforced to turn in a clockwise direction, the stop 34 would abut thesurface 40, but swinging of the escapement cam above its axis would beprevented by the curved surface 38 striking the pin 19. However when thepin 19 reaches an intermediate portion of the concentric portion 31 ofthe cam groove, it strikes the opposite portion of the surface 38 of theescapement cam and turns it on its pivot, carrying the escapement cam toa position so that it will prevent displacement of the signal when theswitch is operated in the opposite direction.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described indetail, it is to be understood that the invention is not thus limited,but includes modifications and changes which come within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, asignal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turnthe latter unequal amounts for equal movements of said. me1nber, themovement of the mast being great est at the ends of the throw of theswitch.

2. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, asignal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turnthe latter through substantially half of its angle of movement while theswitch is moved a small portion only at one end of its throw, andthrough substantially the other half of its movement while the switch ismoved through a small portion only at the other end of its throw, themovement of the switch between said end portions havingsubstantially noeffect on the mast.

3. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, asignal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turnthe latter unequal movements for. equal movements of said as previously1 member including a cam associated with said mast.

4. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, asignal mast, and means operably connecting said member and mast to turnthe latter unequal amounts for equal movements of said member includinga cam associated with said 'mast and means on the member engagmg andoperating the cam.

5. The combination with a switch, a lever, means to turn said lever inproportion to the movement of the switch, a sig nal mast, a camassociated with said mast, means on the lever engaging said cam, the cambeing formed to give unequal angular movements to the mast for equalangular movements of the lever.

6. The combination with a switch, a meniber movable with said switch, asignal member, a cam associated with one of said members, meansconnected with the other member engaging said cam, the cam being formedto effect unequal movements of the signal member for equal movements ofthe switch.

7. The combination with a switch, a member movable with said switch, asignal mast,

means connecting said member and mast constructed and arranged to movethe mast only at the end portions of the throw of the switch, and meansholding the mast against movement during the intermediate portion of theswitch throw.

8. The combination with a switch, a mem ber movable with said switch, asignal member, a cam associated with one of said members, meansconnected with the other memher engaging said cam, the cam being formedto effect movement of the signal member only at the end portions of thethrow of the switch, and means holding the signal against movementduring the intermediate portion of the switch throw.

9. The combination with a switch throwing mechanism including a support,a rotatable signal, a member adapted to be movably connected with theswitch, said parts carried by the support, means connecting the memberand signal to turn the latter only at the end portions of the switchthrow, and means holding the signal against movement during theintermediate portion of the switch throw.

10. The combination with a switch throwing mechanism including asupport, a rotatable signal, a lever having an arm adapted to beconnected to move with the switch, a cam member associated with thesignal, the other arm of the lever engaging said cam, the parts beingconstructed and arranged to move the signal only at the end portions ofthe switch throw, and means holding the cam against movement during theintermediate portion of the switch throw.

11. The combination with a switch stand having switch throwingmechanism, a rotatable signal on said stand, a two armed lever pivotedon the stand, one arm being adjustable in length and adapted to beconnected to be moved with the switch, a pin on the other arm, and. amember having a cam groove associated with the signal, said pin beingdisposed in said groove, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with a rotatably mounted signal, of means to actuatesaid signal including a member associated with the signal and a memberadapted to be actuated by a switch, one of said members having a camsurface and the other means cooperating with said surface, the camsurface being formed to transmit movement from the switch actuatedmember to the signal member only at the ends of the throw of said switchactuated member.

13. The combination with a rotatably mounted signal mast, of a memberhaving a cam groove connected to said mast, a

lever having one arm adapted to be actuated by movement of a switch anda second arm having a pin disposed in said groove, the cam groove beingformed to effect movement of the mast only at the end portions of theswitch throw, and an escapement cam cooperating with said pin torestrain movement of the mast during the intermediate portion of theswitch throw.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES AMES ALDEN.

